Artwork
Standing Nude
Standing Nude is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1920, Standing Nude is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work presents a solitary female figure, rendered in subdued tones, set against a warm orange interior. The composition is simple, focusing attention on the nude form and its quiet presence within the space.
Subject & Meaning
The model for the painting is Annie Fjeldbu, portrayed standing upright and facing the viewer with a calm, expressionless face. Her hair is pulled back and her arms rest at her sides, conveying a sense of stillness and introspection that aligns with Munch’s interest in inner psychological states.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a muted palette and soft modeling of flesh, characteristic of Munch’s post‑impressionist approach. The warm orange background and subtle gradations suggest a glazing technique, allowing light to permeate the surface and enhance the figure’s volumetric presence.
History & Provenance
Standing Nude was produced during a period when Munch was revisiting the human figure, integrating his earlier concerns with illness and loss into a more restrained visual language. The work remains part of the artist’s later oeuvre, reflecting his continued exploration of psychological depth through portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian:; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
